My Child Chipped a Tooth — Now What?

Many parents will experience a certain level of panic when their child suffers some kind of dental emergency. At Alligator Dental, we have found that knowledge is a powerful tool in reducing the anxiety that can be caused by these situations. Chipped and cracked teeth are common dental concerns for children, and if you are in need of a pediatric dentist in Seguin, then we would love to help if you are worried that your child has somehow injured a tooth. Schedule an appointment online!

In today’s post, we will review a few common ways children may accidentally chip their teeth. We will also review the symptoms of an injured tooth, and what you should do if your child has a chipped tooth. Continue reading to learn more.

Chipped Tooth FAQs

How Do Teeth Get Chipped?

Teeth can be injured in a wide variety of ways. However, in order to be chipped, a tooth typically has to have some serious force come in contact with it. Below are a couple of the most common causes of this dental emergency:

Trips and falls. Whether your child trips at the park or falls while skateboarding, he or she may chip a tooth when making contact with the ground.

Water fountains. If a child is pushed while he or she is drinking from a water fountain, the resulting impact with the water spigot could chip a front tooth.

Bounce houses and trampolines. Teeth are commonly injured when children accidentally bounce into each other.

Sports accidents. Contact sports like football and basketball can result in collisions with other players, causing chipped teeth.

Pets. Furry friends get excited when kids come home from school and may chip your child’s tooth by jumping up on him or her.

Car accidents. The forces involved in a motor vehicle accident are significant and can cause tooth injuries.

Teeth clenching. It might be surprising, but clenching teeth can produce 400 to 600 pounds per square inch, which is more than enough to chip a tooth.

If your child has experienced any of these accidents and subsequently complains of tooth pain, he or she may have chipped or broken a tooth. If the injury is significant enough, you may be able to see it with your naked eye. However, if it is a minor chip or crack, it may only be diagnosed by a dentist.

What are the Symptoms of a Chipped Tooth?

Many parents are curious about what kind of symptoms their child may exhibit if he or she has a chipped tooth. The following complaints are generally good indicators of an injured tooth:

Pain when biting or chewing.

Sensitivity to hot and cold.

Intermittent pain and/or sensitivity.

If your child complains of any of the above symptoms, contact Alligator Dental right away. We are a trusted pediatric dentist in Seguin and we are happy to determine if a chipped tooth is the cause of your child’s discomfort. Speak with a friendly member of our staff by calling 830-372-3725 now!

What Can You Do When Your Child Chips a Tooth?

There are a few simple steps you can take to ease your child’s pain if he or she has chipped a tooth. First, have your child do a warm water rinse. This will help clear the area of any debris and gently clean the surface of the tooth. Next, apply gentle pressure to any gum tissue that is bleeding and place a cold compress to your child’s face near the location of the injury. This will help control the bleeding and reduce swelling. To prevent injury to the tongue and cheek, you can place orthodontic wax or dental cement over the jagged edge of the tooth. If your child is experiencing significant pain, over-the-counter pain medication may help. These actions can help make your child more comfortable until he or she can be seen by the dentist.

Treatment for Chipped Teeth and More!

If you are concerned that your child has chipped a tooth, or if he or she has suffered some other kind of dental emergency, Alligator Dental is here for you. We are your Top Rated Local® dentist in Sequin, and we gladly offer after-hours emergency dental care to accommodate urgent cases between the hours of 7:30 am and 10:00 am on regular operating days. Contact us for more information now!